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Justin Trudeau, the embattled Canadian Prime Minister on Tuesday (Dec 17) tried to downplay the most serious challenge to his leadership yet — the resignation of his deputy PM as a 'family' spat.

As per Bloomberg, speaking at the Liberal Party's end-of-the-year, Trudeau chalked up the exit of his long-time trusted Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland as "fights around the holidays".

This comes as, in the last few days, over a dozen members of Trudeau's caucus have publicly said that he cannot carry on as the party leader.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjoyuSH4LCKAxVtS2wGHZYQNlwQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeau-next-canada-deputy-pm-freeland-resigns-in-rare-public-dissent-over-trump-tariff-threat-784530" jsname="YKoRaf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Trudeau next? Ontario Liberal MP calls for change in leadership after Canada Deputy PM's resignation</a>

<h2>What did Trudeau say?</h2>

"Like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays," Trudeau told the Liberal Party's 153 lawmakers and their staffers in Ottawa.

"But of course, like most families, we find our way through it. You know, I love this country, I deeply love this party, I love you guys, and love is what families are all about," he added in a glancing reference to Freeland's resignation.

This comes after Freeland resigned while slamming Trudeau's "costly political gimmicks" in a scathing letter.

<h2>Freeland's resignation</h2>

Freeland, on Monday (Dec 16), announced that she is resigning from Trudeau's cabinet. Freeland said that on Friday, the Canadian PM told her that he was removing her as the nation's finance minister and assigning her a different role and that she felt she had no option but to resign.

Media reports suggest that Trudeau was planning to replace her Brookfield Asset Management Chair, Mark Carney. Following her resignation, Trudeau named Dominic LeBlanc as the finance minister.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjItsKO4LCKAxXid2wGHT7hBY0QxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-deputy-pm-chrystia-freeland-resigns-from-cabinet-over-clashes-with-trudeau-on-trumps-tariff-threats-784436" jsname="YKoRaf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Canada's Deputy PM Freeland resigns over disagreements with Trudeau, says country facing grave challenge</a>

<h2>Why Freeland's resignation is Trudeau's biggest challenge yet?</h2>

Freeland by far is the highest-ranking Liberal to publicly criticise Trudeau. However, she's far from being the only Liberal MP to slam him. Especially after Freeland's resignation, the number of Liberal Party MPs calling for his resignation has increased.

As per a CBC News tally, after Freeland's resignation, over 10 members of Trudeau's caucus have called for him to step down. The MPs as per the report are Wayne Long, René Arseneault, Francis Drouin,&nbsp;Helena Jaczek, Ken McDonald, Ken Hardie, Sean Casey, Chad Collins, Anthony Housefather, Patrick Weiler,&nbsp;Serge Cormier, Yvan Baker and Alexandra Mendès.

(With inputs from agencies)

Justin Trudeau, the embattled Canadian Prime Minister on Tuesday (Dec 17) tried to downplay the most serious challenge to his leadership yet — the resignation of his deputy PM as a 'family' spat.

Justin Trudeau, the embattled Canadian Prime Minister on Tuesday (Dec 17) tried to downplay the most serious challenge to his leadership yet — the resignation of his deputy PM as a 'family' spat. As per Bloomberg, speaking at the Liberal Party's end-of-the-year, Trudeau chalked up the exit of his long-time trusted Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland as "fights around the holidays". This comes as, in the last few days, over a dozen members of Trudeau's caucus have publicly said that he cannot carry on as the party leader. Also read | Trudeau next? Ontario Liberal MP calls for change in leadership after Canada Deputy PM's resignation What did Trudeau say? "Like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays," Trudeau told the Liberal Party's 153 lawmakers and their staffers in Ottawa. "But of course, like most families, we find our way through it. You know, I love this country, I deeply love this party, I love you guys, and love is what families are all about," he added in a glancing reference to Freeland's resignation. This comes after Freeland resigned while slamming Trudeau's "costly political gimmicks" in a scathing letter. Freeland's resignation Freeland, on Monday (Dec 16), announced that she is resigning from Trudeau's cabinet. Freeland said that on Friday, the Canadian PM told her that he was removing her as the nation's finance minister and assigning her a different role and that she felt she had no option but to resign. Media reports suggest that Trudeau was planning to replace her Brookfield Asset Management Chair, Mark Carney. Following her resignation, Trudeau named Dominic LeBlanc as the finance minister. Also read | Canada's Deputy PM Freeland resigns over disagreements with Trudeau, says country facing grave challenge Why Freeland's resignation is Trudeau's biggest challenge yet? Freeland by far is the highest-ranking Liberal to publicly criticise Trudeau. However, she's far from being the only Liberal MP to slam him. Especially after Freeland's resignation, the number of Liberal Party MPs calling for his resignation has increased. As per a CBC News tally, after Freeland's resignation, over 10 members of Trudeau's caucus have called for him to step down. The MPs as per the report are Wayne Long, René Arseneault, Francis Drouin, Helena Jaczek, Ken McDonald, Ken Hardie, Sean Casey, Chad Collins, Anthony Housefather, Patrick Weiler, Serge Cormier, Yvan Baker and Alexandra Mendès. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada PM Justin Trudeau tries to downplay Freeland's resignation, challenge to leadership as 'family' spat

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Tom Cruise Honoured With US Navy's Highest Civilian Award

Rescue teams dug for survivors trapped in crumpled buildings in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake killed at least nine people, burying some in rubble and landslides.

People called out from beneath the remains of a flattened three-storey shop in the capital Port Vila, where scores of rescuers worked through the night to find them, resident Michael Thompson told AFP by satellite phone.&nbsp;

"We got three people out that were trapped. Unfortunately, one of them did not make it," he said.

About 80 people including police, medics, trained rescuers and volunteers used excavators, jackhammers, grinders and concrete saws, "just everything we can get our hands on".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vanuatu-earthquake-embassies-of-us-uk-are-among-damaged-buildings-784720">Vanuatu earthquake: Embassies of US, UK among damaged&nbsp;buildings</a>

When rescuers on the site went quiet, they could hear three people within signalling they were alive on Wednesday, Thompson said.

"There's tonnes and tonnes of rubble on top of them. And two rather significant concrete beams that have pancaked down," he said. "Obviously they are lucky to be in a bit of a void."

AFP photos showed rescuers using heavy machinery to claw away rubble from the squashed concrete remains of a building, dust clouding the air.

The 7.3-magnitude quake struck off Vanuatu's main island at 12:47 pm local time (0147 GMT) on Tuesday.

<h2>State of emergency&nbsp;</h2>

It flattened large buildings, cracked walls, shattered windows and set off landslides in the low-lying archipelago of 320,000 people, which lies in the quake-prone Pacific Rim of Fire.

A string of aftershocks has since shaken the Pacific island nation.

Vanuatu declared a seven-day state of emergency "due to the severe impacts", along with a curfew from 6 pm-6 am.

Australia and New Zealand flew in medical and search-and-rescue personnel on military transport aircraft -- including a 64-person Australian team with two search dogs.

Nine people have been confirmed dead by Port Vila's hospital and that number is likely to rise, said an update by Vanuatu's disaster management office.&nbsp;

The office had earlier said at least 14 people were killed. A government spokesperson was unable to immediately explain the change.

Two of the dead were Chinese citizens, the country's ambassador to Vanuatu told Chinese television.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sara-sharif-murder-sadist-father-and-stepmother-imprisoned-for-life-for-brutally-killing-her-784733">Sara Sharif murder: 'Sadist' father and stepmother imprisoned for life for brutally killing her</a>

The quake caused "major structural damage" in more than 10 buildings, including the main hospital, while also hitting three bridges and power lines, the disaster office's report said.

<h2>Water reserves destroyed&nbsp;</h2>

Two major water reserves supplying Port Vila had been "totally destroyed".

Mobile communications were "functional with intermittent disruptions", it said.

Port Vila's main wharf was closed "due to a major landslide".

The airport was "not operational" but could handle incoming humanitarian aid, the report said.

French engineers set up satellite communications at the airport and declared the runway operational, said the French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Jeangene Vilmer.

The ground floor of a four-storey concrete block in Port Vila -- used by the US, French, British, Australian and New Zealand diplomatic missions -- collapsed, AFP photos showed.&nbsp;

US, French and Australian staff members who were inside are safe, the three countries have said.

Thompson, who runs a zipline adventure business in Vanuatu, said he had seen at least three bodies in the city.

'We could hear screams', he drove near the airport past a toppled four-storey block shortly after the quake. Its ground floor had collapsed under the upper storeys.

"When we slowed down with the windows down, we could hear screams coming from inside," he said.&nbsp;

The quake crushed four large buildings in Port Vila and triggered landslides including one that covered a bus, Thompson said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has estimated 116,000 people could be affected by the worst impacts of the quake.

"People are still hanging out in parks and some areas because they are afraid to go back home for fear of the aftershocks and more earthquakes," said Rebecca Olul, a local official with the UN children's charity UNICEF.

Concerns were mounting over access to fresh water and the challenge now would be ensuring people are safe while finding those who are missing, she told AFP.

Vanuatu is ranked as one of the countries most susceptible to natural disasters such as earthquakes, storm damage, flooding and tsunamis, according to the annual World Risk Report.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Rescue teams dug for survivors trapped in crumpled buildings in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake killed at least nine people, burying some in rubble and landslides.

Rescue teams dug for survivors trapped in crumpled buildings in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake killed at least nine people, burying some in rubble and landslides. People called out from beneath the remains of a flattened three-storey shop in the capital Port Vila, where scores of rescuers worked through the night to find them, resident Michael Thompson told AFP by satellite phone. "We got three people out that were trapped. Unfortunately, one of them did not make it," he said. About 80 people including police, medics, trained rescuers and volunteers used excavators, jackhammers, grinders and concrete saws, "just everything we can get our hands on". Also read | Vanuatu earthquake: Embassies of US, UK among damaged buildings When rescuers on the site went quiet, they could hear three people within signalling they were alive on Wednesday, Thompson said. "There's tonnes and tonnes of rubble on top of them. And two rather significant concrete beams that have pancaked down," he said. "Obviously they are lucky to be in a bit of a void." AFP photos showed rescuers using heavy machinery to claw away rubble from the squashed concrete remains of a building, dust clouding the air. The 7.3-magnitude quake struck off Vanuatu's main island at 12:47 pm local time (0147 GMT) on Tuesday. State of emergency It flattened large buildings, cracked walls, shattered windows and set off landslides in the low-lying archipelago of 320,000 people, which lies in the quake-prone Pacific Rim of Fire. A string of aftershocks has since shaken the Pacific island nation. Vanuatu declared a seven-day state of emergency "due to the severe impacts", along with a curfew from 6 pm-6 am. Australia and New Zealand flew in medical and search-and-rescue personnel on military transport aircraft -- including a 64-person Australian team with two search dogs. Nine people have been confirmed dead by Port Vila's hospital and that number is likely to rise, said an update by Vanuatu's disaster management office. The office had earlier said at least 14 people were killed. A government spokesperson was unable to immediately explain the change. Two of the dead were Chinese citizens, the country's ambassador to Vanuatu told Chinese television. Also read | Sara Sharif murder: 'Sadist' father and stepmother imprisoned for life for brutally killing her The quake caused "major structural damage" in more than 10 buildings, including the main hospital, while also hitting three bridges and power lines, the disaster office's report said. Water reserves destroyed Two major water reserves supplying Port Vila had been "totally destroyed". Mobile communications were "functional with intermittent disruptions", it said. Port Vila's main wharf was closed "due to a major landslide". The airport was "not operational" but could handle incoming humanitarian aid, the report said. French engineers set up satellite communications at the airport and declared the runway operational, said the French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Jeangene Vilmer. The ground floor of a four-storey concrete block in Port Vila -- used by the US, French, British, Australian and New Zealand diplomatic missions -- collapsed, AFP photos showed. US, French and Australian staff members who were inside are safe, the three countries have said. Thompson, who runs a zipline adventure business in Vanuatu, said he had seen at least three bodies in the city. 'We could hear screams', he drove near the airport past a toppled four-storey block shortly after the quake. Its ground floor had collapsed under the upper storeys. "When we slowed down with the windows down, we could hear screams coming from inside," he said. The quake crushed four large buildings in Port Vila and triggered landslides including one that covered a bus, Thompson said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has estimated 116,000 people could be affected by the worst impacts of the quake. "People are still hanging out in parks and some areas because they are afraid to go back home for fear of the aftershocks and more earthquakes," said Rebecca Olul, a local official with the UN children's charity UNICEF. Concerns were mounting over access to fresh water and the challenge now would be ensuring people are safe while finding those who are missing, she told AFP. Vanuatu is ranked as one of the countries most susceptible to natural disasters such as earthquakes, storm damage, flooding and tsunamis, according to the annual World Risk Report. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rescue efforts intensify as Vanuatu battles aftermath of deadly earthquake

US billionaire and SpaceX boss Elon Musk has reacted to media reports in India which said the Indian Army and other security forces had seized Starlink satellite internet service equipment from militant groups in the country’s north-eastern region.

It was reported that police and security personnel had carried out a joint operation against militants in the hill and valley regions of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East, and Kangpokpi districts.

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Acting on specific intelligence, troops of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianArmy</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssamRifles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssamRifles</a> formations under <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpearCorps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpearCorps</a> carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East and Kagpokpi in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manipur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manipur</a>, in close coordination with… <a href="https://t.co/kxy7ec5YAE">pic.twitter.com/kxy7ec5YAE</a>
— SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spearcorps/status/1868653384221225085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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During the operation, the security forces recovered 29 weapons, including snipers, automatic rifles, pistols, grenades, country-made mortars, and other war-related items.

But what made this operation a national headline was the recovery of Starlink devices from the group.

It raised concerns about whether militants were using such equipment and posing a grave threat to India’s national security.

Responding to these reports and concerns, Musk, who owns the company that offers Starlink services, said “This is false.”

He cited the unavailability of satellite beams over India.

“This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India,” the SpaceX boss wrote on X.

He was responding to a post by an X user who had asked Musk to step in to thwart the alleged abuse of Starlink services by terrorists.

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This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1869033627335672237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiX2tqAyLCKAxWEr1YBHdxBH58QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-launches-iris2-space-programme-to-challenge-elon-musks-starlink-784488" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-launches-iris2-space-programme-to-challenge-elon-musks-starlink-784488&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiX2tqAyLCKAxWEr1YBHdxBH58QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">EU launches Iris2 space programme to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink</a>

It must be noted that Starlink services are currently unavailable in India due to a lack of government approval.

Earlier, social media users slammed SpaceX and Musk over alleged misuse of Starlink by rouge elements.

“Starlink is also at fault. Their service is location-based, and they must ensure that locations where they do not have a license remain inaccessible,” one user wrote on X.

“People who trust US, don't know what to term them. How to strengthen relation with a nation who has repeatedly backstabbed us,” wrote a second.

Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk's Starlink A Threat To India's National Security: Reports

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A third user questioned Musk’s clarification and wrote, “This statement is incomplete "Beams are turned off over India" without clarifying whether beams are switched on over Myanmar and in Border areas upto how much distance on either side of the border connectivity might work.”

(With inputs from agencies)

US billionaire and SpaceX boss Elon Musk has reacted to media reports in India which said the Indian Army and other security forces had seized Starlink satellite internet service equipment from militant groups in the country’s north-eastern region.

US billionaire and SpaceX boss Elon Musk has reacted to media reports in India which said the Indian Army and other security forces had seized Starlink satellite internet service equipment from militant groups in the country’s north-eastern region. It was reported that police and security personnel had carried out a joint operation against militants in the hill and valley regions of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East, and Kangpokpi districts. Acting on specific intelligence, troops of #IndianArmy and #AssamRifles formations under #SpearCorps carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East and Kagpokpi in #Manipur, in close coordination with… pic.twitter.com/kxy7ec5YAE — SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) December 16, 2024 × During the operation, the security forces recovered 29 weapons, including snipers, automatic rifles, pistols, grenades, country-made mortars, and other war-related items. But what made this operation a national headline was the recovery of Starlink devices from the group. It raised concerns about whether militants were using such equipment and posing a grave threat to India’s national security. Responding to these reports and concerns, Musk, who owns the company that offers Starlink services, said “This is false.” He cited the unavailability of satellite beams over India. “This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India,” the SpaceX boss wrote on X. He was responding to a post by an X user who had asked Musk to step in to thwart the alleged abuse of Starlink services by terrorists. This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 17, 2024 × Also read: EU launches Iris2 space programme to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink It must be noted that Starlink services are currently unavailable in India due to a lack of government approval. Earlier, social media users slammed SpaceX and Musk over alleged misuse of Starlink by rouge elements. “Starlink is also at fault. Their service is location-based, and they must ensure that locations where they do not have a license remain inaccessible,” one user wrote on X. “People who trust US, don't know what to term them. How to strengthen relation with a nation who has repeatedly backstabbed us,” wrote a second. Watch: Elon Musk's Starlink A Threat To India's National Security: Reports × A third user questioned Musk’s clarification and wrote, “This statement is incomplete "Beams are turned off over India" without clarifying whether beams are switched on over Myanmar and in Border areas upto how much distance on either side of the border connectivity might work.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘This is false,’ Elon Musk slams reports of Starlink internet service abuse by militants in India

After playing a central role in Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections 2024, tech billionaire Elon Musk has his eyes set on the next big target: Taking centre stage in UK politics. The Trump ally reportedly held meeting with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage Monday (Dec 16) at Florida’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The meeting lasted for over one hour, in the presence of Reform UK’s new treasurer Nick Candy.

Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk Unveils Ambitious Vision For Austin Texas, Wants To Turn HQ Into A Texas City

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“We learned a great deal about the Trump ground game and will have ongoing discussions on other areas,” read a joint statement issued by Farage and Candy. “We only have one more chance left to save the west and we can do great things together,” it added.

<h2>Did Farage and Musk discuss donations?</h2>

Earlier this year, it was reported in media that Musk was preparing to donate over $100 million to Farage’s party. However, those reports were later rubbished by the Tesla boss himself.

Now, the meeting between Farage, Candy, and Musk comes as the Reform UK treasurer vows to double down on fundraising operations. Farage is hoping to capitalise on increasing support in the UK and turbo-charge his political startup into a major player in UK political arena. Local elections in the UK are due in May and Farage is hoping to win significant seats and at least one mayoralty.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiLpOD06bCKAxWThq8BHXCbPAgQxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-launches-iris2-space-programme-to-challenge-elon-musks-starlink-784488" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-launches-iris2-space-programme-to-challenge-elon-musks-starlink-784488&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiLpOD06bCKAxWThq8BHXCbPAgQxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE">EU launches Iris2 space programme to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink</a>

Musk showed interest in Reform UK party earlier this month. When Farage posted on X that his party was seeking to build a “winning team to change British politics forever”, Musk responded,&nbsp;“When is the first electoral opportunity?”

It was not clear whether Musk and Farage discussed donations in Monday meeting.

It comes as former UK minister Peter Mandelson earlier urged the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer to use Musk to build closer ties with the incoming Trump administration.

(With inputs from agencies)

After playing a central role in Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections 2024, tech billionaire Elon Musk has his eyes set on the next big target: Taking centre stage in UK politics.

After playing a central role in Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections 2024, tech billionaire Elon Musk has his eyes set on the next big target: Taking centre stage in UK politics. The Trump ally reportedly held meeting with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage Monday (Dec 16) at Florida’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The meeting lasted for over one hour, in the presence of Reform UK’s new treasurer Nick Candy. Watch: Elon Musk Unveils Ambitious Vision For Austin Texas, Wants To Turn HQ Into A Texas City × “We learned a great deal about the Trump ground game and will have ongoing discussions on other areas,” read a joint statement issued by Farage and Candy. “We only have one more chance left to save the west and we can do great things together,” it added. Did Farage and Musk discuss donations? Earlier this year, it was reported in media that Musk was preparing to donate over $100 million to Farage’s party. However, those reports were later rubbished by the Tesla boss himself. Now, the meeting between Farage, Candy, and Musk comes as the Reform UK treasurer vows to double down on fundraising operations. Farage is hoping to capitalise on increasing support in the UK and turbo-charge his political startup into a major player in UK political arena. Local elections in the UK are due in May and Farage is hoping to win significant seats and at least one mayoralty. Also read: EU launches Iris2 space programme to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink Musk showed interest in Reform UK party earlier this month. When Farage posted on X that his party was seeking to build a “winning team to change British politics forever”, Musk responded, “When is the first electoral opportunity?” It was not clear whether Musk and Farage discussed donations in Monday meeting. It comes as former UK minister Peter Mandelson earlier urged the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer to use Musk to build closer ties with the incoming Trump administration. (With inputs from agencies)

Nigel Farage courts Musk as Reform UK party eyes central role in country’s politics

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: - Netanyahu visits Mount Hermon, vows to protect Israel's security - Former hostages urge Israel to secure release of captives in Gaza - US denies roll in Kirillov killing - Trump threatens India with reciprocal tariff

Netanyahu Visits Mount Hermon, Vows to Protect Israel's Security | WION Speed News

York Minster hosts the annual Scandinavian Sankta Lucia service. This event offers a unique way to embrace the Christmas spirit in northern England. Watch for more details!

UK: York Minister Hosts Annual Skandinavian Sancta Lucia Service

The Riyadh Summit 2024 offered glimpses into the future of how investments could enable sustainable growth. In this special coverage from Riyadh, WION's business editor Rahul Karunakar spoke to Kostas Fragogiannis, deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy, Greece. Listen in to this insightful chat…



‘’Inclusive Development Is A Major Challenge’: WION's Exclusive With Deputy FM Of Greece

Nigeria
Nigeria's anti-graft agency said it had arrested 792 suspects in a raid on a building believed to be a hub for fraudsters who lured victims with offers of romance, then pressed them to hand over cash for phony cryptocurrency investments.
The suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, were detained on December 10 at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said.
The luxury building housed a call centre mostly targeting victims from the Americas and Europe, he added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyber-slavery-thousands-of-indians-are-trapped-and-tens-of-thousands-have-gone-missing-in-south-asia-763178">Also read: Cyber slavery: Thousands of Indians are trapped and tens of thousands have gone missing in Southeast Asia</a>
Staff there would make contact with people through social media and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram, then seduce them online or offer them apparently lucrative investment opportunities, Uwujaren told reporters.
Once victims were hooked, they were pressured to transfer money for fake cryptocurrency schemes and other non-existent projects.
"Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries," Uwujaren said.
Watch | ‘Cyber Crime Is The New Geopolitical Weapon:’ Ex-Foreign Affairs Secretary Shyam Saran
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"Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims," he said.
Uwujaren said the Commission was collaborating with international partners and would look into potential links to organised crime. Its agents seized computers, phones, and vehicles in the raid, he added.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, were detained on Dec 10 at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said.



Nigeria Nigeria's anti-graft agency said it had arrested 792 suspects in a raid on a building believed to be a hub for fraudsters who lured victims with offers of romance, then pressed them to hand over cash for phony cryptocurrency investments. The suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, were detained on December 10 at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said. The luxury building housed a call centre mostly targeting victims from the Americas and Europe, he added. Also read: Cyber slavery: Thousands of Indians are trapped and tens of thousands have gone missing in Southeast Asia Staff there would make contact with people through social media and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram, then seduce them online or offer them apparently lucrative investment opportunities, Uwujaren told reporters. Once victims were hooked, they were pressured to transfer money for fake cryptocurrency schemes and other non-existent projects. "Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries," Uwujaren said. Watch | ‘Cyber Crime Is The New Geopolitical Weapon:’ Ex-Foreign Affairs Secretary Shyam Saran × "Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims," he said. Uwujaren said the Commission was collaborating with international partners and would look into potential links to organised crime. Its agents seized computers, phones, and vehicles in the raid, he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Almost 800 arrested in Nigeria over crypto-romance scam

France
France's new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou Tuesday fended off a torrent of criticism after he chaired a provincial town hall meeting as the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte grappled with the devastation of a cyclone.
The controversy erupted less than a week after Bayrou was named as the sixth prime minister of  President Emmanuel Macron's mandate with the task of ending months of political crisis.
The veteran centrist had already ruffled some feathers by insisting that he would keep his post as mayor of the southwestern city of Pau while serving as prime minister.
Bayrou went to Pau Monday evening to attend the town hall meeting where he confirmed that he would stay on in the post that he has held for the last decade.
His presence there meant he had to attend a meeting called by Macron on the Mayotte crisis by video. Hundreds are feared to have died in the storm.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-ramshackle-housing-left-mayotte-exposed-to-cyclone-chidos-fury-784759">Also read: How ramshackle housing left Mayotte exposed to Cyclone Chido's fury</a>
French National Assembly speaker Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of Macron's centrist party, criticised the trip to Pau.
"In the face of such a catastrophe -- of a kind that has not been seen on French territory for decades -- it is important to be side-by-side with the people."
"I would have preferred that the prime minister, instead of taking a plane for Pau, took a plane for Mamoudzou," she told Franceinfo radio, referring to Mayotte's capital.
The head of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) in parliament Mathilde Panot said that after "20 years of the politics of abandonment" of Mayotte, Bayrou "did not understand the symbol" he had sent by going to Pau.
On the right, Republicans (LR) MP Thibault Bazin said that the municipal council could have "done without" the presence of its mayor" given the events in Mayotte and the urgency of France needing a 2025 budget.
Watch | Mayotte Reels From Cyclone Chido's Devastation
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'My responsibility' 
But quizzed about the trip in parliament, Bayrou defended his travel to Pau and remaining its mayor, saying, "We do not have the right to separate the province and the circle of power in Paris."
"Pau is in France," he argued.
"I chaired the municipal council of my city... and I consider that, in doing so, I was also carrying out my responsibility as a citizen," he added.
Bayrou sparked further controversy by declaring "it is not customary for the prime minister and the president to leave the national territory at the same time." Macron has said he will go to Mayotte. But critics pointed out that Mayotte as an overseas territory is an integral part of France.
Appointed on Friday, Bayrou has still to name a government, with ministers from the previous administration staying on in a caretaker capacity.
Bayrou met Macron on Tuesday to discuss the cabinet and was to hold further talks with the head of state, a source close to the prime minister said.
Bayrou told reporters he hoped to have a government formed "in the next days".
In a day of high political drama when Bayrou was unveiled as premier on Friday, sources said Bayrou had effectively strong-armed Macron into naming him by threatening to withdraw the support of the centrist MoDem party that he leads.
Proud of his rural origins in southwestern France, Bayrou has written a biography of one of Pau's most famous natives and his personal hero, King Henry IV, who ruled from 1589 till his assassination in 1610.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Bayrou went to Pau Monday evening to attend the town hall meeting where he confirmed that he would stay on in the post that he has held for the last decade.



France France's new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou Tuesday fended off a torrent of criticism after he chaired a provincial town hall meeting as the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte grappled with the devastation of a cyclone. The controversy erupted less than a week after Bayrou was named as the sixth prime minister of President Emmanuel Macron's mandate with the task of ending months of political crisis. The veteran centrist had already ruffled some feathers by insisting that he would keep his post as mayor of the southwestern city of Pau while serving as prime minister. Bayrou went to Pau Monday evening to attend the town hall meeting where he confirmed that he would stay on in the post that he has held for the last decade. His presence there meant he had to attend a meeting called by Macron on the Mayotte crisis by video. Hundreds are feared to have died in the storm. Also read: How ramshackle housing left Mayotte exposed to Cyclone Chido's fury French National Assembly speaker Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of Macron's centrist party, criticised the trip to Pau. "In the face of such a catastrophe -- of a kind that has not been seen on French territory for decades -- it is important to be side-by-side with the people." "I would have preferred that the prime minister, instead of taking a plane for Pau, took a plane for Mamoudzou," she told Franceinfo radio, referring to Mayotte's capital. The head of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) in parliament Mathilde Panot said that after "20 years of the politics of abandonment" of Mayotte, Bayrou "did not understand the symbol" he had sent by going to Pau. On the right, Republicans (LR) MP Thibault Bazin said that the municipal council could have "done without" the presence of its mayor" given the events in Mayotte and the urgency of France needing a 2025 budget. Watch | Mayotte Reels From Cyclone Chido's Devastation × 'My responsibility' But quizzed about the trip in parliament, Bayrou defended his travel to Pau and remaining its mayor, saying, "We do not have the right to separate the province and the circle of power in Paris." "Pau is in France," he argued. "I chaired the municipal council of my city... and I consider that, in doing so, I was also carrying out my responsibility as a citizen," he added. Bayrou sparked further controversy by declaring "it is not customary for the prime minister and the president to leave the national territory at the same time." Macron has said he will go to Mayotte. But critics pointed out that Mayotte as an overseas territory is an integral part of France. Appointed on Friday, Bayrou has still to name a government, with ministers from the previous administration staying on in a caretaker capacity. Bayrou met Macron on Tuesday to discuss the cabinet and was to hold further talks with the head of state, a source close to the prime minister said. Bayrou told reporters he hoped to have a government formed "in the next days". In a day of high political drama when Bayrou was unveiled as premier on Friday, sources said Bayrou had effectively strong-armed Macron into naming him by threatening to withdraw the support of the centrist MoDem party that he leads. Proud of his rural origins in southwestern France, Bayrou has written a biography of one of Pau's most famous natives and his personal hero, King Henry IV, who ruled from 1589 till his assassination in 1610. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

France's new PM faces criticism for chairing town hall meeting amid Mayotte cyclone tragedy

Washington DC, US 
US President-elect Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register newspaper and its top pollster, court documents showed, the day after he stepped up his legal threats against news outlets and said he would also consider suing social media influencers and others for defamation.
The lawsuit filed Monday night in Polk County seeks "accountability for brazen election interference committed by" the newspaper and pollster J. Ann Selzer over its poll published on Nov. 2. That poll showed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris leading Trump by 13 percentage points in Iowa.
"Selzer’s polling 'miss' was not an astonishing coincidence—it was intentional," the lawsuit said. "As President Trump observed: 'She knew exactly what she was doing'."
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an order barring the Des Moines Register from engaging in "ongoing deceptive and misleading acts and practices" related to polling.
Gannett, parent company of the Des Moines Register, is also named in the suit. A Gannett representative said the organisation stands by its reporting and believes the suit is without merit.
In his remarks to reporters on Monday, Trump threatened to sue the Des Moines Register over the poll. "In my opinion, it was fraud and it was election interference," Trump said.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mealy-mouth-politician-lies-and-more-desantis-and-haley-engage-in-verbal-battle-at-pre-iowa-debate-678851">Also read: 'Mealy-mouth politician', 'lies' and more: DeSantis and Haley engage in verbal battle at pre-Iowa debate</a>
“It costs a lot of money to do it, but we have to straighten out the press,” Trump also told reporters.
Some legal experts say Trump's comments and legal actions risk chilling news coverage of the incoming administration even if legal protections for journalists are for now robust.
“There is some serious concern that the erosion of legal protections could lead to less aggressive news coverage,” said Syracuse University communications professor Roy Gutterman.
He pointed to the ABC settlement as a possible example of a news organization fearing retribution from the Trump administration, noting that the high cost of litigation could have also influenced the network’s decision.
On Dec. 14, Walt Disney-owned ABC News agreed to give $15 million to Trump’s presidential library to settle a lawsuit over comments that anchor George Stephanopoulos made on air.
The comments involved the civil cases brought against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her at a New York department store in the 1990s.
Stephanopoulos said Trump was found liable for rape, but a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse. New York law distinguishes the two offenses.
Trump is appealing the jury verdict in that case and a judge's ruling in a related lawsuit brought by Carroll.
An ABC News spokesperson said in a statement that the network was pleased that the parties reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit.
As part of the settlement, ABC agreed to publish an editor's note stating that the network and Stephanopoulos "regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump" made during the interview in question.
On Monday, Trump also mentioned his lawsuit against CBS News over an interview with Harris that aired on its "60 Minutes" news programme in October. The lawsuit, which seeks $1 billion in damages, claimed that the interview had been deceptively edited.
CBS has said the suit is "completely without merit" and has asked a judge to dismiss the case.
Trump claimed on Monday that “60 Minutes” participated in ”fraud and election interference."
<h2>Targeting legal protections for journalists</h2>
Any lawsuits by Trump would still face steep hurdles in court because U.S. law has some of the strongest protections in the world for news coverage of public figures.
Longstanding legal precedent holds that public figures must prove defendants knew or strongly suspected something was false but said it anyway, a standard known as “actual malice” that is notoriously difficult to prove in court.
Trump has said this legal standard should be changed, and some U.S. Supreme Court justices have expressed willingness to reexamine the precedent.
“The standard remains a strong one, the strongest in the western world,” said Boston School of Law professor Jeffrey Pyle.
Even if lawsuits by Trump were to fail, they could create headaches for news organizations by publicly revealing potentially embarrassing internal communications and exposing journalists and executives to depositions.
In the ABC lawsuit, some legal experts said the network could have prevailed because Stephanopoulos' comments appeared to be an innocent mistake and not the type of reckless disregard that Trump would have to prove.
A judge denied ABC's motion to dismiss the case in July, rejecting the network's claim that it was broadly protected under Florida laws shielding news organizations from liability for accurate reporting on information received from government officials.
That order only concerned several initial legal questions and did not mean Trump would have ultimately won.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

"Selzer’s polling 'miss' was not an astonishing coincidence—it was intentional," the lawsuit said. "As President Trump observed: 'She knew exactly what she was doing.'"



Washington DC, US US President-elect Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register newspaper and its top pollster, court documents showed, the day after he stepped up his legal threats against news outlets and said he would also consider suing social media influencers and others for defamation. The lawsuit filed Monday night in Polk County seeks "accountability for brazen election interference committed by" the newspaper and pollster J. Ann Selzer over its poll published on Nov. 2. That poll showed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris leading Trump by 13 percentage points in Iowa. "Selzer’s polling 'miss' was not an astonishing coincidence—it was intentional," the lawsuit said. "As President Trump observed: 'She knew exactly what she was doing'." The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an order barring the Des Moines Register from engaging in "ongoing deceptive and misleading acts and practices" related to polling. Gannett, parent company of the Des Moines Register, is also named in the suit. A Gannett representative said the organisation stands by its reporting and believes the suit is without merit. In his remarks to reporters on Monday, Trump threatened to sue the Des Moines Register over the poll. "In my opinion, it was fraud and it was election interference," Trump said. Also read: 'Mealy-mouth politician', 'lies' and more: DeSantis and Haley engage in verbal battle at pre-Iowa debate “It costs a lot of money to do it, but we have to straighten out the press,” Trump also told reporters. Some legal experts say Trump's comments and legal actions risk chilling news coverage of the incoming administration even if legal protections for journalists are for now robust. “There is some serious concern that the erosion of legal protections could lead to less aggressive news coverage,” said Syracuse University communications professor Roy Gutterman. He pointed to the ABC settlement as a possible example of a news organization fearing retribution from the Trump administration, noting that the high cost of litigation could have also influenced the network’s decision. On Dec. 14, Walt Disney-owned ABC News agreed to give $15 million to Trump’s presidential library to settle a lawsuit over comments that anchor George Stephanopoulos made on air. The comments involved the civil cases brought against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her at a New York department store in the 1990s. Stephanopoulos said Trump was found liable for rape, but a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse. New York law distinguishes the two offenses. Trump is appealing the jury verdict in that case and a judge's ruling in a related lawsuit brought by Carroll. An ABC News spokesperson said in a statement that the network was pleased that the parties reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit. As part of the settlement, ABC agreed to publish an editor's note stating that the network and Stephanopoulos "regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump" made during the interview in question. On Monday, Trump also mentioned his lawsuit against CBS News over an interview with Harris that aired on its "60 Minutes" news programme in October. The lawsuit, which seeks $1 billion in damages, claimed that the interview had been deceptively edited. CBS has said the suit is "completely without merit" and has asked a judge to dismiss the case. Trump claimed on Monday that “60 Minutes” participated in ”fraud and election interference." Targeting legal protections for journalists Any lawsuits by Trump would still face steep hurdles in court because U.S. law has some of the strongest protections in the world for news coverage of public figures. Longstanding legal precedent holds that public figures must prove defendants knew or strongly suspected something was false but said it anyway, a standard known as “actual malice” that is notoriously difficult to prove in court. Trump has said this legal standard should be changed, and some U.S. Supreme Court justices have expressed willingness to reexamine the precedent. “The standard remains a strong one, the strongest in the western world,” said Boston School of Law professor Jeffrey Pyle. Even if lawsuits by Trump were to fail, they could create headaches for news organizations by publicly revealing potentially embarrassing internal communications and exposing journalists and executives to depositions. In the ABC lawsuit, some legal experts said the network could have prevailed because Stephanopoulos' comments appeared to be an innocent mistake and not the type of reckless disregard that Trump would have to prove. A judge denied ABC's motion to dismiss the case in July, rejecting the network's claim that it was broadly protected under Florida laws shielding news organizations from liability for accurate reporting on information received from government officials. That order only concerned several initial legal questions and did not mean Trump would have ultimately won. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Trump sues Des Moines Register and top pollster, vows more lawsuits against them

Riverhead, New York
<meta content="uuidwSuslMwR6h3t" name="uuid"/>New York-based architect Rex Heuermann, who is the prime suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, was on Tuesday (Dec 17) charged in the death of a seventh woman, American media reported.
Heuermann, 61, is charged with killing six other women whose remains were found on Long Island. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
A report by the news agency Associated Press said that Heuermann was charged in the death of 24-year-old Valerie Mack, whose remains were first found on Long Island in 2000.
<h2>Heuermann pleads not guilty to killing Mack</h2>
The Associated Press report said that Heuermann pleaded not guilty to killing Mack. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gilgo-beach-serial-killing-suspect-rex-heuermann-charged-in-more-murders-729487">Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect Rex Heuermann charged in more murders</a>
Some of Mack’s skeletal remains were initially discovered in Manorville, New York; authorities found more of her remains about 80 kilometres west, in Gilgo Beach, more than 10 years later. They were unidentified until genetic testing revealed her identity in 2020. 
In court papers, prosecutors said on Tuesday that human hair found with Mack's remains was sent for testing earlier this year and found to be a likely match with the genetic profile of Heuermann's daughter. 
His daughter has not been accused of any wrongdoing and would have been 3 or 4 years old when Mack died.
<h2>The Gilgo Beach murders</h2>
The investigation into the case dates back to 2010, when police searching for a missing woman found 10 sets of human remains in the scrub along a barrier island parkway.
Over the years, investigators used DNA analysis and other clues to identify the victims, many of whom were sex workers. 
Heuermann, who lived with his wife and two children in Massapequa Park on Long Island and commuted to a Manhattan architecture office, was arrested on July 13 last year. At that point, he was charged with murdering Barthelemy, Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello.
Earlier in 2024, he was charged in the deaths of three other women — Brainard-Barnes, Taylor and Sandra Costilla.
(With inputs from agencies)

Heuermann, 61, is charged with killing six other women whose remains were found on Long Island. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.



Riverhead, New York New York-based architect Rex Heuermann, who is the prime suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, was on Tuesday (Dec 17) charged in the death of a seventh woman, American media reported. Heuermann, 61, is charged with killing six other women whose remains were found on Long Island. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. A report by the news agency Associated Press said that Heuermann was charged in the death of 24-year-old Valerie Mack, whose remains were first found on Long Island in 2000. Heuermann pleads not guilty to killing Mack The Associated Press report said that Heuermann pleaded not guilty to killing Mack. Also read | Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect Rex Heuermann charged in more murders Some of Mack’s skeletal remains were initially discovered in Manorville, New York; authorities found more of her remains about 80 kilometres west, in Gilgo Beach, more than 10 years later. They were unidentified until genetic testing revealed her identity in 2020. In court papers, prosecutors said on Tuesday that human hair found with Mack's remains was sent for testing earlier this year and found to be a likely match with the genetic profile of Heuermann's daughter. His daughter has not been accused of any wrongdoing and would have been 3 or 4 years old when Mack died. The Gilgo Beach murders The investigation into the case dates back to 2010, when police searching for a missing woman found 10 sets of human remains in the scrub along a barrier island parkway. Over the years, investigators used DNA analysis and other clues to identify the victims, many of whom were sex workers. Heuermann, who lived with his wife and two children in Massapequa Park on Long Island and commuted to a Manhattan architecture office, was arrested on July 13 last year. At that point, he was charged with murdering Barthelemy, Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello. Earlier in 2024, he was charged in the deaths of three other women — Brainard-Barnes, Taylor and Sandra Costilla. (With inputs from agencies)

Rex Heuermann, the prime suspect in Gilgo Beach murders, is charged in death of seventh woman

Copenhagen
<meta content="uuidzQ16O43dmoqM" name="uuid"/>
Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was on Tuesday released from detention after Denmark refused a Japanese extradition request over a 2010 clash with whalers. 
Watson had been held in Greenland since July on a 2012 Japanese warrant accusing him of causing damage to a whaling ship and injuring a whaler.
"It's been five months and this is the first day of freedom, so I'm feeling great," Watson told AFP in a video call shortly after his release from the Danish autonomous territory. 
"My arrest has focused international attention on Japan's continuing illegal whaling operations and their intent to go back to the Southern Ocean," the 74-year-old said. "So, in fact, these five months have been an extension of the campaign."
He added that his detention had also highlighted Denmark's "illegal killing of dolphins and whales in the Faroe Islands", 
Watson, who featured in the reality TV series "Whale Wars", founded Sea Shepherd and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF) and is known for radical tactics including confrontations with whaling ships at sea.
Watch | Intelligence Defined By How Your Brain Is Wired: Study

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Jean Tamalet, one of Watson's lawyers, told AFP that "the fight is not over." 
"We will now have to challenge the red notice and the Japanese arrest warrant, to ensure that Captain Paul Watson can once again travel the world in complete peace of mind, and never experience a similar episode again," Tamalet said.
Watson also lamented being on the Interpol Red Notice list, saying it "is for serial killers, war criminals, and major drug traffickers."
<h2>Ready for the worst </h2>
Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, told AFP that she "still can't believe it."
Speaking alongside Watson following his release, said she "was ready for the worst, getting ready to fight, even to get him out of Japan if we had to."
According to documents viewed by AFP, Denmark's decision was based on the duration of Watson's detention following his arrest and the time it would take to carry out a possible extradition.
The ministry also considered "the fact that the acts for which extradition is sought are more than 14 years ago and the nature of the acts in general."
Contacted by AFP, Japanese foreign ministry officials in charge of the issue were not immediately available for comment.
Tokyo accuses Watson of injuring a Japanese crew member with a stink bomb intended to disrupt the whalers' activities during a Sea Shepherd clash with the Shonan Maru 2 vessel in 2010.
Watson's lawyers have said they have video footage proving the crew member was not on deck when the stink bomb was thrown.
"Japan tried to silence a man whose only crime was to denounce the illegality of the industrial massacre disguised as scientific research," one of his lawyers, Francois Zimeray, told AFP. 
Watson would not get a fair trial in Japan, where "there is a presumption of guilt," he told AFP. "Prosecutors are proud to announce that they have a 99.6 per cent conviction rate."
<h2>Not a comment on Japan </h2>
In September, Watson's lawyers contacted the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, claiming that he could be "subjected to inhumane treatment" in Japanese prisons.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/madness-must-be-stopped-zelensky-claims-russian-troops-burning-faces-of-north-korean-soldiers-killed-in-war-784772">'Madness must be stopped', Zelensky claims Russian troops burning faces of North Korean soldiers killed in war</a>
Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard stressed that the decision was based on the specifics of the case and "does not mean that Denmark shares the concerns that have been raised in certain circles about the Japanese legal system."
"Japan is a democratic state that respects fundamental human rights. There has also been a good and close dialogue with the Japanese authorities," Hummelgaard said.
In a rare public comment on the case, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has said that the extradition request was "an issue of law enforcement at sea rather than a whaling issue".
Watson wants to return to France, where he has been living since July 2023 and where his two young children attend school. He requested French citizenship in October.
Watson's legal woes have attracted support from the public and activists, including prominent British conservationist Jane Goodall, who has urged French President Emmanuel Macron to grant him political asylum.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

"It's been five months and this is the first day of freedom, so I'm feeling great," Watson told AFP in a video call shortly after his release from the Danish autonomous territory. 



Copenhagen Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was on Tuesday released from detention after Denmark refused a Japanese extradition request over a 2010 clash with whalers. Watson had been held in Greenland since July on a 2012 Japanese warrant accusing him of causing damage to a whaling ship and injuring a whaler. "It's been five months and this is the first day of freedom, so I'm feeling great," Watson told AFP in a video call shortly after his release from the Danish autonomous territory. "My arrest has focused international attention on Japan's continuing illegal whaling operations and their intent to go back to the Southern Ocean," the 74-year-old said. "So, in fact, these five months have been an extension of the campaign." He added that his detention had also highlighted Denmark's "illegal killing of dolphins and whales in the Faroe Islands", Watson, who featured in the reality TV series "Whale Wars", founded Sea Shepherd and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF) and is known for radical tactics including confrontations with whaling ships at sea. Watch | Intelligence Defined By How Your Brain Is Wired: Study Jean Tamalet, one of Watson's lawyers, told AFP that "the fight is not over." "We will now have to challenge the red notice and the Japanese arrest warrant, to ensure that Captain Paul Watson can once again travel the world in complete peace of mind, and never experience a similar episode again," Tamalet said. Watson also lamented being on the Interpol Red Notice list, saying it "is for serial killers, war criminals, and major drug traffickers." Ready for the worst Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, told AFP that she "still can't believe it." Speaking alongside Watson following his release, said she "was ready for the worst, getting ready to fight, even to get him out of Japan if we had to." According to documents viewed by AFP, Denmark's decision was based on the duration of Watson's detention following his arrest and the time it would take to carry out a possible extradition. The ministry also considered "the fact that the acts for which extradition is sought are more than 14 years ago and the nature of the acts in general." Contacted by AFP, Japanese foreign ministry officials in charge of the issue were not immediately available for comment. Tokyo accuses Watson of injuring a Japanese crew member with a stink bomb intended to disrupt the whalers' activities during a Sea Shepherd clash with the Shonan Maru 2 vessel in 2010. Watson's lawyers have said they have video footage proving the crew member was not on deck when the stink bomb was thrown. "Japan tried to silence a man whose only crime was to denounce the illegality of the industrial massacre disguised as scientific research," one of his lawyers, Francois Zimeray, told AFP. Watson would not get a fair trial in Japan, where "there is a presumption of guilt," he told AFP. "Prosecutors are proud to announce that they have a 99.6 per cent conviction rate." Not a comment on Japan In September, Watson's lawyers contacted the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, claiming that he could be "subjected to inhumane treatment" in Japanese prisons. Also read | 'Madness must be stopped', Zelensky claims Russian troops burning faces of North Korean soldiers killed in war Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard stressed that the decision was based on the specifics of the case and "does not mean that Denmark shares the concerns that have been raised in certain circles about the Japanese legal system." "Japan is a democratic state that respects fundamental human rights. There has also been a good and close dialogue with the Japanese authorities," Hummelgaard said. In a rare public comment on the case, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has said that the extradition request was "an issue of law enforcement at sea rather than a whaling issue". Watson wants to return to France, where he has been living since July 2023 and where his two young children attend school. He requested French citizenship in October. Watson's legal woes have attracted support from the public and activists, including prominent British conservationist Jane Goodall, who has urged French President Emmanuel Macron to grant him political asylum. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Whaling activist Watson freed after Denmark rejects extradition request

Doha, Qatar
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Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Tuesday (Dec 17) that talks in Qatar's Doha aimed at a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza were "serious and positive."
In a statement, Hamas said, "Hamas affirms that, in light of the serious and positive discussions taking place today in Doha under the auspices of our Qatari and Egyptian brothers, reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange is possible if the occupation (Israel) ceases to impose new conditions."
Israel and Hamas have been fighting a war in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
<h2>Israeli delegation arrives in Doha for talks</h2>
Hamas' remarks came a day after an Israeli delegation arrived in Doha for talks aimed at bridging gaps (with Hamas). 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-destroyed-gaza-tunnel-hamas-used-to-attack-soldiers-784724">Hamas concerned Trump would allow Israel to resume Gaza war after first phase of ceasefire: Report</a>
Since the Gaza war began, Qatar, along with the United States (US) and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a truce and hostage release deal.
But apart from a one-week pause in fighting late last year, successive negotiations have failed to stop the war.
The ceasefire in late November last year saw scores of Hamas-held hostages being released in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. 
<h2>Will a ceasefire happen again?</h2>
According to a report by the news agency AFP, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated on Monday that negotiators from his country had "not been this close to an agreement" for the release of hostages in Gaza since the truce in November last year.
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official in Doha told AFP that negotiations for the truce deal were "closer than ever before" but warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could still "disrupt the agreement as he has done every time before."
<h2>Families of hostages call for immediate ceasefire</h2>
On Tuesday, families of Israeli hostages took to the streets of Tel Aviv to call for an immediate ceasefire deal that would see the release of all 100 hostages in Gaza amid both Israel and Hamas being close to an agreement.
Also watch | Trump warns Hamas to release hostages soon
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Carrying large posters of their loved ones and chanting slogans, the protesters marched on the Tel Aviv headquarters of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party, where they demonstrated outside, a report by the news agency Reuters said.
(With inputs from agencies)

Since the Gaza war began, Qatar, along with the United States (US) and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a truce and hostage release deal. But apart from a one-week pause in fighting late last year, successive negotiations have failed to stop the war.



Doha, Qatar Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Tuesday (Dec 17) that talks in Qatar's Doha aimed at a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza were "serious and positive." In a statement, Hamas said, "Hamas affirms that, in light of the serious and positive discussions taking place today in Doha under the auspices of our Qatari and Egyptian brothers, reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange is possible if the occupation (Israel) ceases to impose new conditions." Israel and Hamas have been fighting a war in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Israeli delegation arrives in Doha for talks Hamas' remarks came a day after an Israeli delegation arrived in Doha for talks aimed at bridging gaps (with Hamas). Also read | Hamas concerned Trump would allow Israel to resume Gaza war after first phase of ceasefire: Report Since the Gaza war began, Qatar, along with the United States (US) and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a truce and hostage release deal. But apart from a one-week pause in fighting late last year, successive negotiations have failed to stop the war. The ceasefire in late November last year saw scores of Hamas-held hostages being released in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Will a ceasefire happen again? According to a report by the news agency AFP, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated on Monday that negotiators from his country had "not been this close to an agreement" for the release of hostages in Gaza since the truce in November last year. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official in Doha told AFP that negotiations for the truce deal were "closer than ever before" but warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could still "disrupt the agreement as he has done every time before." Families of hostages call for immediate ceasefire On Tuesday, families of Israeli hostages took to the streets of Tel Aviv to call for an immediate ceasefire deal that would see the release of all 100 hostages in Gaza amid both Israel and Hamas being close to an agreement. Also watch | Trump warns Hamas to release hostages soon Carrying large posters of their loved ones and chanting slogans, the protesters marched on the Tel Aviv headquarters of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party, where they demonstrated outside, a report by the news agency Reuters said. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war: Hamas says truce talks in Doha are 'serious and positive'

Former US President Donald Trump has once again warned Hamas to release hostages, stating that failure to do so will result in severe consequences. His statement comes amid ongoing tensions and calls for the safe return of captives held by the militant group.

US News: Donald Trump Warns Hamas To Release Hostages Soon

New Delhi 
In his upcoming biography, Pop Francis claimed that he escaped two attempts on his life during his visit to Iran in 2021. The book titled "Hope" will be released next month. 
Russian general Igor Kirillov was killed on Tuesday (Dec 17). He was assassinated in an electric scooter explosion in Moscow. He was the head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops. 
In news from other parts of the world, British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif's father and her stepmother have been sentenced to life for murdering the 10-year-old. In 2023, her body was discovered in Surrey after she was physically assaulted by her father, stepmother, and uncle. 
Click on the links to read more 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-says-he-escaped-two-attempts-on-his-life-during-2021-iraq-visit-784750https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-says-he-escaped-two-attempts-on-his-life-during-2021-iraq-visit-784750">Pope Francis says he escaped two attempts on his life during 2021 Iraq visit</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/17/471710-untitled-2.png"/>
Pope Francis has said that he escaped two attempts on his life during his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. He made this claim in his upcoming autobiography, which will be released next month.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-was-igor-kirillov-russias-chemical-weapons-chief-and-a-mouthpiece-for-exposing-western-crimes-784708">Who was Igor Kirillov? Russia's chemical weapons chief</a>
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Russian general Igor Kirillov, who was killed in an electric scooter explosion in Moscow, was the head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops. Lieutenant General Kirillov was assassinated by Ukraine's SBU intelligence service on Tuesday (Dec 17), according to a report by Reuters.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sara-sharif-murder-sadist-father-and-stepmother-imprisoned-for-life-for-brutally-killing-her-784733">Sara Sharif murder: 'Sadist' father and stepmother imprisoned for life</a>
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British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif's father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother Beinash Batool have been jailed for life for murdering their 10-year-old daughter.  
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-changed-the-constitution-77-times-in-55-years-says-amit-shah-in-parliament-784738">Amit Shah in Parliament: Congress changed Constitution 77 times in 55 years</a>
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday during a debate marking 75 years since the adoption of the Constitution and used the occasion to rip into the Congress party and its leadership over the imposition of emergency and for making amendments in the statute for 'personal' gains.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-khamenei-says-resistance-not-over-after-assad-ouster-784754">Iran's Khamenei says 'resistance' not over after Assad ouster</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/17/471715-00036pz8ax.jpg"/>
Iran's supreme leader said Tuesday that Israel and the United States were "completely wrong" to imagine the Tehran-backed axis of resistance had collapsed with the ouster of Syria's longtime strongman.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-sending-ps35-million-aid-to-help-ukrainians-survive-winter-784758">UK sending £35 million aid to help Ukrainians survive winter</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/17/471718-wion-news-latest-6.png"/>
The British government Tuesday announced £35 million ($44 million) in aid to repair Ukraine's energy grid battered by Russian strikes and help Ukrainians confront freezing winter weather.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-executes-ex-official-who-was-convicted-in-nations-largest-ever-corruption-case-784698">China executes ex-official convicted in nation's largest-ever corruption case</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/17/471677-untitled.png"/>
China on Tuesday (Dec 17) executed a former official who was convicted in the country's largest-ever corruption case. According to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency, the death sentence was awarded to Li Jianping, a former official in the north Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/was-unaware-of-everything-happening-says-hannah-kobayashi-after-her-return-784712">Missing Hawaii woman case: Was unaware of media frenzy, says Hannah Kobayashi after her return</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/17/471687-wion-news-latest-2.png"/>
Hannah Kobayashi, the missing Hawaii woman found recently, said she was "unaware of everything" that happened in the media and her family. After returning to the United States from Mexico, Hannah said in a statement handed on Tuesday (Dec 17) by her aunt that she is "still processing it all" and urged people to respect her family during “this challenging time". 
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Weather conditions and 98 overs on the final day will decide the fate of the third BGT Test between Australia and India at the Gabba. With rain playing spoilsport for the fourth straight day in Brisbane, overcast conditions are predicted for the fifth day too. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/pushpa-2-stampede-case-telangana-police-likely-to-challenge-allu-arjuns-bail-784642">Pushpa 2 stampede case: Telangana police likely to challenge Allu Arjun’s bail</a>
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Actor Allu Arjun’s bail might get cut short soon as Telangana police are preparing to challenge it and take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Here are the top 10 news stories from across the world.



New Delhi In his upcoming biography, Pop Francis claimed that he escaped two attempts on his life during his visit to Iran in 2021. The book titled "Hope" will be released next month. Russian general Igor Kirillov was killed on Tuesday (Dec 17). He was assassinated in an electric scooter explosion in Moscow. He was the head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops. In news from other parts of the world, British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif's father and her stepmother have been sentenced to life for murdering the 10-year-old. In 2023, her body was discovered in Surrey after she was physically assaulted by her father, stepmother, and uncle. Click on the links to read more Pope Francis says he escaped two attempts on his life during 2021 Iraq visit Pope Francis has said that he escaped two attempts on his life during his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. He made this claim in his upcoming autobiography, which will be released next month. Who was Igor Kirillov? Russia's chemical weapons chief Russian general Igor Kirillov, who was killed in an electric scooter explosion in Moscow, was the head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops. Lieutenant General Kirillov was assassinated by Ukraine's SBU intelligence service on Tuesday (Dec 17), according to a report by Reuters. Sara Sharif murder: 'Sadist' father and stepmother imprisoned for life British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif's father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother Beinash Batool have been jailed for life for murdering their 10-year-old daughter. Amit Shah in Parliament: Congress changed Constitution 77 times in 55 years Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday during a debate marking 75 years since the adoption of the Constitution and used the occasion to rip into the Congress party and its leadership over the imposition of emergency and for making amendments in the statute for 'personal' gains. Iran's Khamenei says 'resistance' not over after Assad ouster Iran's supreme leader said Tuesday that Israel and the United States were "completely wrong" to imagine the Tehran-backed axis of resistance had collapsed with the ouster of Syria's longtime strongman. UK sending £35 million aid to help Ukrainians survive winter The British government Tuesday announced £35 million ($44 million) in aid to repair Ukraine's energy grid battered by Russian strikes and help Ukrainians confront freezing winter weather. China executes ex-official convicted in nation's largest-ever corruption case China on Tuesday (Dec 17) executed a former official who was convicted in the country's largest-ever corruption case. According to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency, the death sentence was awarded to Li Jianping, a former official in the north Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Missing Hawaii woman case: Was unaware of media frenzy, says Hannah Kobayashi after her return Hannah Kobayashi, the missing Hawaii woman found recently, said she was "unaware of everything" that happened in the media and her family. After returning to the United States from Mexico, Hannah said in a statement handed on Tuesday (Dec 17) by her aunt that she is "still processing it all" and urged people to respect her family during “this challenging time". BGT, Gabba Test, Australia vs India: Weather report of final day in Brisbane Weather conditions and 98 overs on the final day will decide the fate of the third BGT Test between Australia and India at the Gabba. With rain playing spoilsport for the fourth straight day in Brisbane, overcast conditions are predicted for the fifth day too. Pushpa 2 stampede case: Telangana police likely to challenge Allu Arjun’s bail Actor Allu Arjun’s bail might get cut short soon as Telangana police are preparing to challenge it and take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Top 10 world news: Pope almost assassinated in 2021; Ukraine killed Russian general, and more

Moscow, Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Dec 17) claimed that Russian troops have burnt the faces of deceased North Korean soldiers to conceal their identity and hide their presence. 
Zelensky shared a 31-second video, showing a group of people burning what appears to be a corpse on a snow-covered slope. 
"Even after years of war, when we thought the Russians could not get any more cynical, we see something even worse," Zelensky said in a post on X. 
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Even after years of war, when we thought the Russians could not get any more cynical, we see something even worse.
Russia not only sends the North Korean troops to storm Ukrainian positions, but also tries to conceal losses of these people.
They tried to hide the presence of… <a href="https://t.co/KYyGF1rxP8">pic.twitter.com/KYyGF1rxP8</a>
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1868777841917059313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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He further said that Russia not only sends the North Korean troops to storm Ukrainian positions but also "tries to conceal losses of these people".
The Ukrainian president stressed that the Russians attempted to erase any video evidence of their presence. 
"Now, after first combats with our warriors, Russians are trying…to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle," he said, adding, "This is a demonstration of disrespect, which is currently prevalent in Russia, a disrespect to everything human."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-claims-killing-or-injuring-30-north-korean-soldiers-in-kursk-region-784464">Also read: Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv claims killing or injuring 30 North Korean soldiers in Kursk region</a>
Zelensky said that there is not a single reason for North Koreans to fight and die for Putin. 
"This madness must be stopped—stopped by a reliable and durable peace, as well as Russia’s accountability for this cynical war," he emphasised. 
Earlier on Monday, Zelensky claimed that around 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk border region. This was the first reported casualties since Kyiv announced that Pyongyang had sent 10,000 troops to Russia to help in its war with Ukraine. 
Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Trump To Talk To Zelensky, Putin To End War
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Prior to that, he said that he had "preliminary evidence that the Russians have begun to use soldiers from North Korea in assaults, a noticeable number of them."
Washington and Seoul have also accused Pyongyang of sending over 10,000 troops to support Moscow following the signing of a significant defence agreement between Russia and North Korea earlier this year.
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)

Zelensky shared a 31-second video, showing a group of people burning what appears to be a corpse on a snow-covered slope. 



Moscow, Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Dec 17) claimed that Russian troops have burnt the faces of deceased North Korean soldiers to conceal their identity and hide their presence. Zelensky shared a 31-second video, showing a group of people burning what appears to be a corpse on a snow-covered slope. "Even after years of war, when we thought the Russians could not get any more cynical, we see something even worse," Zelensky said in a post on X. Even after years of war, when we thought the Russians could not get any more cynical, we see something even worse. Russia not only sends the North Korean troops to storm Ukrainian positions, but also tries to conceal losses of these people. They tried to hide the presence of… pic.twitter.com/KYyGF1rxP8 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 16, 2024 × He further said that Russia not only sends the North Korean troops to storm Ukrainian positions but also "tries to conceal losses of these people". The Ukrainian president stressed that the Russians attempted to erase any video evidence of their presence. "Now, after first combats with our warriors, Russians are trying…to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle," he said, adding, "This is a demonstration of disrespect, which is currently prevalent in Russia, a disrespect to everything human." Also read: Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv claims killing or injuring 30 North Korean soldiers in Kursk region Zelensky said that there is not a single reason for North Koreans to fight and die for Putin. "This madness must be stopped—stopped by a reliable and durable peace, as well as Russia’s accountability for this cynical war," he emphasised. Earlier on Monday, Zelensky claimed that around 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk border region. This was the first reported casualties since Kyiv announced that Pyongyang had sent 10,000 troops to Russia to help in its war with Ukraine. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Trump To Talk To Zelensky, Putin To End War × Prior to that, he said that he had "preliminary evidence that the Russians have begun to use soldiers from North Korea in assaults, a noticeable number of them." Washington and Seoul have also accused Pyongyang of sending over 10,000 troops to support Moscow following the signing of a significant defence agreement between Russia and North Korea earlier this year. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

'Madness must be stopped', Zelensky claims Russian troops burning faces of North Korean soldiers killed in war

Paris, France 
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The dismal quality of housing across Mayotte has compounded the devastating impact of Cyclone Chido on the poverty-stricken French Indian Ocean territory where hundreds, or maybe thousands, are feared dead.
Before the storm hit, around a third of the island's population was living in iron-sheeted huts that never stood a chance against the powerful cyclone.
By the time it was gone, all of Mayotte's shantytowns were flattened, burying lives—and livelihoods—beneath them.
"We fear there will be a considerable number of deaths," a French government official told AFP. "Several hundred, or maybe several thousand."
Mayotte is the poorest part of France, of which it is an integral part. 
Recent official data on the state of housing in Mayotte are hard to come by, but 2017 data published by the National Statistics Institute said 40 per cent of the island's homes are built with metal sheets, and around a third have no access to running water.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cyclone-chido-devastates-frances-mayotte-death-toll-could-reach-thousands-784261">Cyclone Chido devastates France's Mayotte: Death toll could reach thousands</a>
<h2>Flimsy </h2>
"They're made of wood, corrugated iron, and situated on hills, on beaten earth," said Florent Vallee, who runs the French Red Cross branch's emergency operations. 
"You can easily imagine the wind barreling into them and the rain creating mudslides."
Over the decades, French authorities have tried to improve housing conditions for the island's population which numbers 320,000 according to official data but is much greater because of an influx of undocumented migrants who do not show up in government statistics.
As recently as the late 1970s, modern building materials were virtually unknown in Mayotte, said Megane Aussedat, a sociologist and expert on informal housing on the island.
Despite government programmes to replace precarious shelters with solid housing, the number of available homes is still inadequate compared to the size of the population and the migration influx.
They are also out of reach for many people in Mayotte, where the median monthly income is 260 euros ($273), compared with around 2,600 euros pretax on the French mainland.
Subsidised housing projects have also been slow to materialise, said Aussedat.
However, since 2018, the authorities have been allowed to raze substandard housing, provided they immediately offered inhabitants new homes.
Such clearing operations, involving massive police contingents, are sometimes thought to have the secondary objective of flushing out undocumented migrants, but Aussedat observed that telling illegals from legal can be a challenge.
"There is almost no family in Mayotte," she said, "where everybody's status is either documented or undocumented."
<h2>Comoros influx </h2>
Mayotte's immigration issue is almost entirely due to an influx from the Comoros, an archipelago whose closest shores are just 70 kilometers (44 miles) from Mayotte, and that declared independence in the 1970s while Mayotte opted to remain French.
As poor as Mayotte is by French standards, the Comoros are even poorer, tempting many there into a perilous journey across the water in search of a better life in Mayotte.
They often end up living in makeshift areas consisting mostly of so-called "bangas"—small" houses made of cloth and thatch.
When Chido hit, many refused to leave their homes, taking their chances with the cyclone  rather than face the danger of their homes being looted or being picked up by the authorities.
Vallee said emergency services had rescued "entire families, and also a lot of children who were left alone."
Sanitary conditions, already precarious, have worsened since, mostly because of patchy access to clean water that could prompt another cholera outbreak like the one in the spring of 2024 that killed seven people, said Jean-Francois Coty, president of the Medecins du Monde NGO.
<h2>'Brakes on healthcare access' </h2>
Undocumented migrants' "fear of moving is putting the brakes on healthcare access," he said.
A French government scheme allowing undocumented people access to state healthcare is not available in Mayotte.
Coty said he hoped that French officials would pause forced deportations so immigrants can seek help without fear of expulsion.
"This is a time for humanitarian aid, not for a crackdown," he said. 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Recent official data on the state of housing in Mayotte are hard to come by, but 2017 data published by the National Statistics Institute said 40 per cent of the island's homes are built with metal sheets, and around a third have no access to running water.



Paris, France The dismal quality of housing across Mayotte has compounded the devastating impact of Cyclone Chido on the poverty-stricken French Indian Ocean territory where hundreds, or maybe thousands, are feared dead. Before the storm hit, around a third of the island's population was living in iron-sheeted huts that never stood a chance against the powerful cyclone. By the time it was gone, all of Mayotte's shantytowns were flattened, burying lives—and livelihoods—beneath them. "We fear there will be a considerable number of deaths," a French government official told AFP. "Several hundred, or maybe several thousand." Mayotte is the poorest part of France, of which it is an integral part. Recent official data on the state of housing in Mayotte are hard to come by, but 2017 data published by the National Statistics Institute said 40 per cent of the island's homes are built with metal sheets, and around a third have no access to running water. Also Read: Cyclone Chido devastates France's Mayotte: Death toll could reach thousands Flimsy "They're made of wood, corrugated iron, and situated on hills, on beaten earth," said Florent Vallee, who runs the French Red Cross branch's emergency operations. "You can easily imagine the wind barreling into them and the rain creating mudslides." Over the decades, French authorities have tried to improve housing conditions for the island's population which numbers 320,000 according to official data but is much greater because of an influx of undocumented migrants who do not show up in government statistics. As recently as the late 1970s, modern building materials were virtually unknown in Mayotte, said Megane Aussedat, a sociologist and expert on informal housing on the island. Despite government programmes to replace precarious shelters with solid housing, the number of available homes is still inadequate compared to the size of the population and the migration influx. They are also out of reach for many people in Mayotte, where the median monthly income is 260 euros ($273), compared with around 2,600 euros pretax on the French mainland. Subsidised housing projects have also been slow to materialise, said Aussedat. However, since 2018, the authorities have been allowed to raze substandard housing, provided they immediately offered inhabitants new homes. Such clearing operations, involving massive police contingents, are sometimes thought to have the secondary objective of flushing out undocumented migrants, but Aussedat observed that telling illegals from legal can be a challenge. "There is almost no family in Mayotte," she said, "where everybody's status is either documented or undocumented." Comoros influx Mayotte's immigration issue is almost entirely due to an influx from the Comoros, an archipelago whose closest shores are just 70 kilometers (44 miles) from Mayotte, and that declared independence in the 1970s while Mayotte opted to remain French. As poor as Mayotte is by French standards, the Comoros are even poorer, tempting many there into a perilous journey across the water in search of a better life in Mayotte. They often end up living in makeshift areas consisting mostly of so-called "bangas"—small" houses made of cloth and thatch. When Chido hit, many refused to leave their homes, taking their chances with the cyclone rather than face the danger of their homes being looted or being picked up by the authorities. Vallee said emergency services had rescued "entire families, and also a lot of children who were left alone." Sanitary conditions, already precarious, have worsened since, mostly because of patchy access to clean water that could prompt another cholera outbreak like the one in the spring of 2024 that killed seven people, said Jean-Francois Coty, president of the Medecins du Monde NGO. 'Brakes on healthcare access' Undocumented migrants' "fear of moving is putting the brakes on healthcare access," he said. A French government scheme allowing undocumented people access to state healthcare is not available in Mayotte. Coty said he hoped that French officials would pause forced deportations so immigrants can seek help without fear of expulsion. "This is a time for humanitarian aid, not for a crackdown," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

How ramshackle housing left Mayotte exposed to Cyclone Chido's fury

London 
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The British government Tuesday announced £35 million ($44 million) in aid to repair Ukraine's energy grid battered by Russian strikes and help Ukrainians confront freezing winter weather.
Some £20 million will be allocated to try to restore the power network and protect Ukrainian infrastructure, a UK government statement said.
A further £15 million will be made available to "provide lifesaving humanitarian support to the most in need as temperatures in Ukraine plummet".
Russia launched one of its largest missile attacks ever in the early hours of Friday, once again targeting war-torn Ukraine's energy grid.
Watch | Polio Vaccination Team Attacked In Pakistan, At least One Policeman Killed
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The attack "severely damaged" some Ukrainian power plants, the Ukrainian DTEK power provider said and knocked out electricity to thousands of people.
"As Putin's oil revenues continue to fuel the fires of his illegal war, Ukrainian families are enduring cold, dark nights, often without heating, light or electricity, targeted by Russia's relentless missile attacks," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"But these systematic attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure will not grind Ukraine down. It will only deepen our resolve and support," he added.
Russia has conducted at least 11 large-scale strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the beginning of the year, Kyiv says, with Ukrainians now enduring their third winter at war.
The UK government also sanctioned energy companies 2Rivers DMCC and 2Rivers PTE LTD, which are "key lynchpins in enabling the trading" of Russian oil, the government said.
Starmer further announced additional crackdowns on Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers which bypass Western sanctions.
The latest round of sanctions targets 20 ships. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-destruction-contact-with-aliens-heres-what-baba-vanga-predicted-for-2025-784744">Europe's destruction, contact with aliens: Here's what Baba Vanga predicted for 2025</a>
The UK government said it has now sanctioned more than 100 ships for transporting Russian energy, leaving tankers "idling uselessly outside ports" and "costing Putin and his war efforts millions in wasted funds".
EU countries last week agreed to blacklist around 50 more oil tankers in their 15th package of sanctions since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.
The UK has also agreed to work with Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Estonia to request proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels in the Baltic and North Sea.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Russia launched one of its largest missile attacks ever in the early hours of Friday, once again targeting war-torn Ukraine's energy grid.



London The British government Tuesday announced £35 million ($44 million) in aid to repair Ukraine's energy grid battered by Russian strikes and help Ukrainians confront freezing winter weather. Some £20 million will be allocated to try to restore the power network and protect Ukrainian infrastructure, a UK government statement said. A further £15 million will be made available to "provide lifesaving humanitarian support to the most in need as temperatures in Ukraine plummet". Russia launched one of its largest missile attacks ever in the early hours of Friday, once again targeting war-torn Ukraine's energy grid. Watch | Polio Vaccination Team Attacked In Pakistan, At least One Policeman Killed The attack "severely damaged" some Ukrainian power plants, the Ukrainian DTEK power provider said and knocked out electricity to thousands of people. "As Putin's oil revenues continue to fuel the fires of his illegal war, Ukrainian families are enduring cold, dark nights, often without heating, light or electricity, targeted by Russia's relentless missile attacks," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "But these systematic attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure will not grind Ukraine down. It will only deepen our resolve and support," he added. Russia has conducted at least 11 large-scale strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the beginning of the year, Kyiv says, with Ukrainians now enduring their third winter at war. The UK government also sanctioned energy companies 2Rivers DMCC and 2Rivers PTE LTD, which are "key lynchpins in enabling the trading" of Russian oil, the government said. Starmer further announced additional crackdowns on Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers which bypass Western sanctions. The latest round of sanctions targets 20 ships. Also read | Europe's destruction, contact with aliens: Here's what Baba Vanga predicted for 2025 The UK government said it has now sanctioned more than 100 ships for transporting Russian energy, leaving tankers "idling uselessly outside ports" and "costing Putin and his war efforts millions in wasted funds". EU countries last week agreed to blacklist around 50 more oil tankers in their 15th package of sanctions since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion. The UK has also agreed to work with Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Estonia to request proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels in the Baltic and North Sea. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UK sending £35 million aid to help Ukrainians survive winter

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